• GETEC and SMS group commission one of the largest air-to-water heat pump plants in Germany at the Hilchenbach site
• The air-to-water heat pump system will supply 50,000 square meters of halls, offices and the canteen of SMS group with climate-friendly heat
• SMS group further reduces CO₂ with innovative energy technologies and AI-supported control systems 

Hilchenbach, Germany, 26 November, 2025 – A milestone in industrial decarbonisation: one of Germany’s largest air-to-water heat pumps is being commissioned in Hilchenbach. Together, GETEC and SMS group have built an innovative power-to-heat plant that shows how sustainable, fossil-free energy solutions can be implemented economically and scalably. With an annual saving of 6,000 tonnes of CO₂, the plant, which is operated exclusively with electricity from renewable sources, sets a strong example for a climate-neutral future.

The system combines several high-tech components into an integrated heating solution. Four large air-to-water heat pumps with an output of 3 MWth extract thermal energy from the ambient air, even at sub-zero temperatures. This energy is temporarily stored in a source storage tank before water-to-water heat pumps with a capacity of 4 MWth heat it up to 85°C. A 2,000 m³ buffer storage system guarantees heat availability even during peak demand.
 
In particularly cold periods, an electric boiler with an output of 4 MWth kicks in, which also heats the water up to 95°C using only electricity. The intelligent control system is particularly innovative. An AI-supported forecasting model adjusts operation depending on the weather and load, so that the plant runs when electricity is cheap and green.

“The power-to-heat plant is a central building block on our way to climate-neutral operation at the Hilchenbach site – a goal we want to achieve by 2030,” said Fabíola Fernandez, CFO of SMS group. “At the same time, it is a signal of a new departure for all our other sites. At SMS group, we are driving forward the decarbonisation of the global steel industry. However, it is just as important to us to take responsibility within our own company and to consistently implement sustainability in our facilities as well."

The plant also stabilises the power grid by storing surplus green electricity in the form of heat. Thanks to its modular design, it can easily be expanded with other regenerative system components, making it a future-proof solution.

SMS group defined the framework conditions for the plant and implemented them together with GETEC as a partner. GETEC is responsible for the financing, implementation and operation of the state-of-the-art plant.

“Together with SMS group, we have implemented a future-proof solution that extends beyond the site,” said Thomas Stephanblome, CEO, GETEC Germany. “This is exactly what drives us. We want to help our customers succeed by delivering reliable, economical and decarbonised energy and infrastructure solutions for the industry of today and tomorrow.”

The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and is a model example of the decarbonisation of industrial sites. The BMWE's funding was administered by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control.

“With the federal funding for efficient heating networks (BEW), companies such as GETEC and SMS group can make a major contribution to restructuring their heat supply in a climate-neutral way,” said Dr. Mandy Pastohr, BAFA President. “This benefits not only the companies themselves, but ultimately all of us. We are pleased that GETEC and SMS group have taken advantage of the funding and will be able to save large amounts of CO₂ in the future with the commissioning of the air-to-water heat pump in order to make a contribution to climate change mitigation.”

About GETEC
GETEC is Europe's leading specialist for reliable, decarbonised energy and infrastructure solutions. With more than 3,100 dedicated employees at around 50 locations, we leverage our engineering, regulatory, and sustainability expertise to help our industrial and real estate customers navigate the complexities of the modern energy landscape while significantly reducing their carbon footprint. Operating over 11,000 plants, the company has a broad decarbonised technology offering. GETEC develops, finances, and runs critical energy infrastructure and industrial parks across Europe through its regional platforms in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Benelux, Austria and Poland.